PALLADIO STONE - quartz countertops specialist

Slab fabbricators

CARE AND MANTEINANCE of quartz countertops surfaces

Indications for maintenance:

Quartzforms products are highly compacted and non-porous surface, thus requiring no special treatment. Quartzforms products do not absorb liquids, smells or food fats. Since they are not porous, they do not allow the proliferation of bacteria, resist acids, are easy to clean and hygienic. Quartzforms products are resistant to stains and wear and tear, scores, scratches and light bangs. Although the material is resistant to high temperatures, it should still be protected with potholders to avoid the direct contact of the saucepan or kitchenware surfaces when they have just come off the stove. Indeed, direct contact with overheated objects or flames might result in permanent marks due to the heating of the resin or cracks created by the thermal shock. The counter should never be used as an ironing board. Although resistant to scores and scratches, if its original appearance is to be preserved, the use of chopping boards is always to be advised. Furthermore, the work tops should never be overloaded with weights exceeding 50 kg (do not stand or sit on the counter) and make sure blunt objects do not fall on it (knives, bottles, saucepans, working tools, etc) which, owing to their shape, may cause cracks that are difficult if not impossible to repair.

Advice for cleaning polished surfaces:

Everyday cleaning Use a soft cloth moistened with water and neutral detergent. For persistent stains Aggressive acid-based detergents such as Viakal, Aiax bagno, Cif, etc. may also be used. Thanks to the outstanding compactness of the material, the rough side of kitchen sponges may also be used. Avoid cleaning the surfaces with denatured alcohol which might leave streaks that are difficult to remove when it dries. Unsuitable products Avoid cleaning the surface with products containing bleach or those with a high basic ph which, if applied extensively, might create whitish streaks. Other products that might harm the surface are tricotilene, industrial solvents, hydrofluoric acid, caustic soda, and varnish solvents.

Advice for cleaning honed brushed surfaces:

The smoothing and sandblasting of the surfaces to obtain brushed, surface is done mechanically with the appropriate equipment that carries out the mechanical working process needed to obtain the various finishes by removing part of the material. The resulting surfaces therefore have knurls or degrees of unevenness that are evident to varying degrees, so that the material does not reflect the light like a polished surface (fig. 1) but is opaque and rough to the touch (fig. 2). If one observes the two figures describing a polished and a smooth finish, one can see that the polished surface counter is perfectly rectilinear while the one with the opaque surface has an irregular line. This is why the surfaces finished so they have a brushed surface may have problems regarding dirtiness. Indeed, the dirt particles on the polished surface are easy to remove since no physical obstacle is keeping them back, while on the other surface there may be deposits on the micro-knurls or small bumps that are more difficult to remove.

Everyday cleaning:

Any detergents usually used for polished surfaces may be used. Coloured liquids that come into contact with the surface should be cleaned immediately, when the stain is still fresh. The agglomerate material of quartz does not absorb liquid substances and the dirt that might be retained by the micro-knurling does not penetrate the material and can therefore always be removed. In the case of more persistent dirt, acid-based aggressive detergents may also be used. Avoid cleaning the surface with denatured alcohol which leaves streaks that are difficult to remove when it dries.

Scale-marks

(remains of aqueduct water) we recommend cleaning with Viakal (or other acid-based anti-scale detergents) which may be used for prolonged periods of time

Greasy or fatty substance stains

Grease-removal detergents for the kitchen may be used but once the stain has been removed, the area must be rinsed thoroughly with water. “Grease-removal” products are usually “basic” and, if left to act on a quartz agglomerate for a long time they might change the surface, leaving stains (they react with the resin content).